Marquette, Michigan – September 25, 2015 – The Marquette Food Co-op has won the first annual Governor’s Energy Excellence Award for Best Commercial (private) Project for the construction of their new store and facility. The first annual Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards honors Michigan organizations and individuals for their commitment to responsible energy production and consumption. Michigan has emerged as a leader in energy efficiency and these awards are meant to showcase outstanding achievements in reducing energy waste.
“Reducing energy waste doesn’t have to mean scaling back or doing less. These award winners have demonstrated that it’s possible to do as much or more by finding new and innovative ways to get things done,” said Gov. Rick Snyder. “This is important because reliable and affordable energy fuels Michigan’s economy, and continuing to reduce our energy waste is one of the main ways we are going to keep energy prices affordable in Michigan.”
130 nominations for the award were made in eight categories celebrating differing ways in which energy efficiency can be achieved in the state of Michigan. The award categories include:
- Best Projects (commercial, residential, public sector, industrial/manufacturing, and agriculture)
- Innovator of the Year
- Contractor of the Year
- Best Communication or Education Program
The Marquette Food Co-op was nominated by Michigan Energy Options (MEO), www.michigan energyoptions.org, a non-profit with offices in East Lansing and Marquette that focuses on guiding communities toward being more sustainable and resilient through the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy. MEO was an early advisor to the Co-op during planning of their store expansion project.
Matt Gougeon, General Manager of the Co-op said, “The Board of Directors and members of the Marquette Food Co-op are honored to be recognized by the State for our efforts at reducing energy waste and finding efficiencies in our energy systems and building. Such things are often hidden from view but make such a positive impact on our environment and our bottom line.” The Co-op uses mostly LED lighting on timers and motion sensors, high efficiency refrigeration, has two gray water systems for irrigation and flushing toilets, and reclaims waste heat from refrigeration to heat water. The Co-op tripled their facility’s size from their previous location but have only increased energy usage by one third.
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